AUDITIONS

Feb. 2019: The Valley Players will hold auditions the first two weekends in February for the first three shows of their 40th Anniversary season at the Valley Players Theater, 4254 Main Street, Waitsfield. For the first time in Valley Players’ history, all the plays this coming season have been previously produced by the group.

Harvey, by Mary Chase, will be directed by Tom Badowski, with show dates Friday-Sunday, May 31-June 16. The first show produced by the Valley Players in 1979, the main character of Harvey is Elwood P. Dowd, who insists on including his friend Harvey in all of his sister Veta’s social gatherings. Trouble is, Harvey is an imaginary six-and-a-half-foot-tall rabbit.

On Golden Pond, by Ernest Thompson, will be directed by Jeanne Beckwith, with show dates Friday-Sunday, August 2-18. Originally produced here in 1982, On Golden Pond tells the love story of Ethel and Norman Thayer, who are returning to their summer home on Golden Pond for the forty-eighth year. They are visited by their divorced, middle-aged daughter and her dentist fiancé, who then go off to Europe, leaving his teenage son behind for the summer. The boy quickly becomes the “grandchild” the elderly couple have longed for.

Oliver!, by Lionel Bart, will be directed by Ruth Ann Pattee with music direction by Michael Halloran. The show dates are Friday-Sunday, October 4-20. The Tony Award-winning show first staged at the Valley Players in 2008 (also directed by Pattee) is based on Charles Dickens’ novel, Oliver Twist, about a malnourished orphan in a workhouse, whose journey through a London full of nefarious characters and fraught with danger ultimately leads him to the true love of a family.

Auditions for Harvey and On Golden Pond will be held Sunday, February 3 at 4 p.m. and Monday, February 4 at 6 p.m. Both shows are non-musicals. Harvey has roles for young adults and adults, while On Golden Pond has roles for seniors, adults and one role for a boy who looks 12-14 years old. Those coming to audition do not need to prepare anything; audition scripts will be provided.

Auditions for Oliver! will be Sunday, February 10 and Tuesday, February 12. Approximately eight children ages 5-12 will be cast as orphans and pickpockets; two children will be cast as Oliver. There are many other roles, singing and non-singing, for teens and adults. Children must be accompanied by an adult to auditions on Feb. 10 at 2 pm or Feb. 12 at 5 pm. Auditions for teen and adults will be on Feb. 10 at 6 pm or Feb, 12 at 7 pm. “I would really like to encourage parents to come and audition with their kids during the kids’ audition times,” said Pattee. “This is a great show for parents to participate in with their kids as cast members!” No preparation is needed to audition, although if those trying out for lead roles would like to prepare 36 bars of a song, opportunity will be provided to perform.

Season tickets for these shows and for the three shows in 2020 are available now. For more information, go to valleyplayers.com, email valleyplayers@madriver.com, or call 802-583-1674.

March 10 and 17: Chandler Center for the Arts announces auditions for their 21st annual summer youth musical: Footloose! Auditions are scheduled for Sunday March 10 for teen lead roles and Sunday March 17 for elementary and teen chorus roles. Performances will be held on the main stage at Chandler Music Hall in Randolph on July 4-7. On- and off-stage opportunities are available to students ages 7 through 18.
Registration forms and audition material are available on Chandler’s website at www.chandler-arts.org/youth. Deadline for registration is March 8 for leads, March 15 for choruses. Registration and audition fees will be charged and partial scholarship assistance is available.
The directing team for this production includes Kim Nowlan Hathaway as director and choreographer and Molly Clark as music director.
When Ren and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, Ren is prepared for the inevitable adjustment period at his new high school. What he isn’t prepared for are the rigorous local edicts, including a ban on dancing instituted by the local preacher, determined to exercise the control over the town’s youth that he cannot command in his own home. When the reverend’s rebellious daughter sets her sights on Ren, her roughneck boyfriend tries to sabotage Ren’s reputation, with many of the locals eager to believe the worst about the new kid. The heartfelt story that emerges is of a father longing for the son he lost and of a young man aching for the father who walked out on him. To the rockin’ rhythm of its Oscar and Tony-nominated top 40 score, Footloose celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people, guiding them with a warm heart and an open mind.
Chandler’s annual musical production presents plenty of creative opportunities, including costumes, sets, and more! For information about auditioning or about helping out behind the scenes, please contact Emily Crosby at outreach@chandler-arts.org or 802-728-9878 extension 3.
For more information about youth offerings at Chandler, please visit www.chandler-arts.orgFootloose is presented through special arrangement with R & H Theatricals: www.rnh.com.

Chandler Music Hall
71-73 Main Street
Randolph, VTSaturdays February 2 & 9AUDITIONS: MUD SEASON VARIETY SHOW
The Mud Season Variety Show returned last year and is back again by popular demand. The show will be performed on Friday March 22 at 7 pm. Anything goes–dancing, fiddling, juggling, singing, tickling the ivories, doing a skit, getting your garage band together.
Contact Janine Reeves at mainesjj@comcast.net or at 802-234-5514 to sign up for an audition time.

Chandler Music Hall
71-73 Main Street
Randolph, VTWednesday, February 6AUDITIONS: MINI MUD
The Mini Mud youth variety show will be held Friday March 8 at 7 pm. Youngsters age 6-18 are invited to bring music, dance, magic, theatrical skits, or any other talent to perform.
Contact Ramsey Papp at ramsey.papp@gmail.com or at 802-578-4005 to sign up for an audition time.

Smoke and Mirrors at Plainfield Town Hall Opera House

Plainfield Little Theater announces the premiere production of a new play by local Vermont playwright Tom Blachly called Smoke and Mirrors, about the wild and rollicking 1840 Presidential election, with much contemporary relevance to our own political campaigns and culture. The play will be performed on November 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17, at 7 pm, at the Plainfield Town Hall Opera House in Plainfield. Tickets are $12 general admission / $10 students and seniors. For ticket reservations, call 229-5290 or email blachly@together.net.

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08.November.Thursday

Mr. Burns at Northern Vermont University-Johnson

The Northern Vermont University-Johnson student theater troupe will present “Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play” Nov 8-11 at the Dibden Center for the Arts on campus. The play will be at 7 pm, Nov 8-10 and 2 pm, Nov 11. Admission is $10 a person for the public and free for NVU students and employees. Tickets may be reserved by calling (802) 635-1476.

The three-act play, written by Anne Washburn, is directed by NVU-Johnson assistant professor of theater Isaac Eddy. “Mr. Burns” is a dark comedy about a post-apocalyptic world without electricity, set about a century in the future, and centers on discussion of an episode of “The Simpsons” from the ’90s. Vermont students in the cast include Emmett Erwin of Newport as Sam and Mr. Burns, Kian Kauffman of Sharon as Troy, Brittney Malik of Randolph as Maria and Itchy, and Amanda Rosalbo of Randolph as Jenny and Marge.For more information, call (802)635-1476, or email jscboxoffice@jsc.edu.

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08.November.Thursday

Pride and Prejudice at Spaulding High School

Spaulding Drama Club presents Jane Austen’s best-loved work, Pride and Prejudice. Filled with witty repartee, romance, and some serious life lessons, this period drama follows Elizabeth Bennett and her four sisters in their pursuit to secure their futures. Alumnus Alison Norcross directs her fifth production for SHSDC; script is by Robert Stoddard.

Dates/Time: November 8, 9, and 10 at 7:30

Address: 155 Ayers Street, Barre, VT

Tickets: Available online at shs@u61.org or at the door. Prices are $10/adults; $7/students/staff/seniors; $5/children.

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09.November.Friday

Smoke and Mirrors at Plainfield Town Hall Opera House

Plainfield Little Theater announces the premiere production of a new play by local Vermont playwright Tom Blachly called Smoke and Mirrors, about the wild and rollicking 1840 Presidential election, with much contemporary relevance to our own political campaigns and culture. The play will be performed on November 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17, at 7 pm, at the Plainfield Town Hall Opera House in Plainfield. Tickets are $12 general admission / $10 students and seniors. For ticket reservations, call 229-5290 or email blachly@together.net.